Posted by Paula Richey on September 18, 2012 at 1:30pm
For a very long time, I felt like I didn't know my calling. I didn't know what gift or talent God had given me and I didn't know what to do with my life. I kept asking God to give me a sign - then I began asking Him to put the dots reeeaaallly close together because I wasn't getting the message yet.Meanwhile, I was reading lots of science fiction and fantasy. It was my guilty pleasure - guilty because I had a kind of half-baked idea that God didn't approve of spaceships and dragons. My friend who went to church (and kept inviting me, though I didn't like her church) once promised me a jewelry box. We were going to trade because hers had fairies and mine had kittens. The next week we met and she said she'd thrown it in a bonfire her church had lit for "worldly" things. I was what, nine, I think? I'm still freaked out. After that, I never wanted to see her church again. I had all kinds of worldly contraband! I had a unicorn collection and loads of books!The "most Christian" people I knew were the kind of people who listened to rumors about everything from deodorant to Disney to the end times and the NIV. People who say things like the peace symbol turned upside down and with one line missing is a symbol for the devil, so a peace symbol is actually an occult symbol and wearing it is the same as saying you're in league with Satan and your soul is in danger and and and!You know what this kind of talk did to my perception of Christians? I did not want to be one. I didn't want God mad at me, but I didn't want to fall into all that fear-mongering and rumor-spreading. And these church people were saying that fantasy and science fiction were evil. That the only proper reading was Christian YA and the KJV. And though I tried the Christian YA, it was awful.Well, that was that. I couldn't be a Christian because I thought the books were stupid and I didn't want to burn my unicorns. And I didn't want to go around warning hippies that their peace symbols were corroding their souls. Besides, all the Christians I knew were broke. They had money for the offering plate, but not much to care for their families and homes. Who wants to grow up to have a toilet that there are rules for how and how often to flush it because you can't afford to have it fixed?Nope, serious Christianity meant no money, no fiction, no fun. And if I could only read dreadful Christian YA, then that would mean I couldn't write anything I liked, either. I had a bit more leeway with art, but not much. Comics? Aside from the tracts, they were disapproved of and for boys anyway.So when I discovered C.S. Lewis and Madeleine L'Engle, I was shocked. In a good way, but still, if C.S. Lewis can write about fauns and talking animals and other planets and be a highly respected Christian writer, then there was something seriously warped about my earlier experiences with Christians.But I still had trouble figuring out what God wanted me to do. Eventually I joined New Spring Church - yes, a mega-church. The small churches with the rumors and KJVs hate my church. They claim we don't preach the Bible and that there's a big production every week but nobody gets saved. But that isn't true - we hear the Gospel every week, and every week people are saved. Every week! I can actually see the lives changing around me. It's amazing. We aren't competing with other churches - we're reaching out to the people who aren't in church. And there are a lot.My pastor has written a book and it is just like his preaching and this church, if there's anything you want to know about how church, of all places, freed me up to create. He is very big on the fact that everyone is created by God, on purpose, for a purpose, and it's so much bigger than our minds can comprehend. If that's true, then certainly there must be a place and a purpose for an artsy geeky word nerd like me.(www.unleashbook.com has a free chapter)So while attending this church, I slowly began to realize that God created me. (Well, duh, of course... But the implications took awhile to sink in) God is not surprised or shocked at me. He gets me. Of course He does - He created me on purpose, for a purpose. And over my life, the things I have gravitated toward and the opportunities I had, all seem to be converging right here. My talent with art - I was miles ahead of the kids in kindergarten, and I practiced drawing all the time and took classes when I could. One of these also dealt with calligraphy and the crow quill pen. I was scared of blots, but I discovered that I got along really well in that medium. Now it's one of my favorites, right after pencil. Also, my love of stories - I read, read, read! And I write. I love archetypal myths (which superheroes are). And fairy tales (take that, bonfire church!). And I've worked to learn everything I can about the craft of writing and put it into practice.And now I have this story on my mind and my heart, and I believe God has put it there and given me everything I need to create it as a graphic narrative.The church people I used to know would be appalled.How does your church influence your creativity?
Great post Paula, and thanks for being open and honest. Like Lisa, my journey as a comic-creator has primarily been a personal one. It was two fellow Christians who, in two separate conversations I had with them, encouraged to me to stop talking about "what if I tried creating my own comics..." and to trust God and do it. I felt like those conversations were God's way of confirming what had been on my heart, so since then I've never looked back. In general, though, the sense that I've gotten is that many churches aren't very open to certain types of creativity, especially if it involves things of a sci-fi or fantasy nature, or related to popular culture. The sentiment seems really prevalent with regards to certain types of music (e.g., rock, hip-hop), and things like comics and graphic novels. I know there are exceptions, and there may be more exceptions than I'm estimating.
Thanks :) I didn't get my direct storyline from my church (aliens! Ha!) but I think the theme of my story is a recurring theme in my church as well - meet Christ first, and then God will point out where the behavior needs to change, one issue at a time. Everyone can be redeemed :) I can't even express how happy that thought makes me - that God's love is simple and permanent and that He wants more for me, not less.
I love your post. I'm glad you're not worrying about mythical creatures and sci-fi; it seems you've realized your giftings since you joined New Spring. I can't really say that my church has influenced my creativity since my passion for comic art has been a personal journey. Still, what you have is God-breathed and I'll be looking forward to what you'll produce. Many blessings! :)
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Great post Paula, and thanks for being open and honest. Like Lisa, my journey as a comic-creator has primarily been a personal one. It was two fellow Christians who, in two separate conversations I had with them, encouraged to me to stop talking about "what if I tried creating my own comics..." and to trust God and do it. I felt like those conversations were God's way of confirming what had been on my heart, so since then I've never looked back. In general, though, the sense that I've gotten is that many churches aren't very open to certain types of creativity, especially if it involves things of a sci-fi or fantasy nature, or related to popular culture. The sentiment seems really prevalent with regards to certain types of music (e.g., rock, hip-hop), and things like comics and graphic novels. I know there are exceptions, and there may be more exceptions than I'm estimating.
I love your post. I'm glad you're not worrying about mythical creatures and sci-fi; it seems you've realized your giftings since you joined New Spring. I can't really say that my church has influenced my creativity since my passion for comic art has been a personal journey. Still, what you have is God-breathed and I'll be looking forward to what you'll produce. Many blessings! :)